Hepcidin Expression Does Not Rescue the Iron-Poor Phenotype of Kupffer Cells in Hfe-Null Mice After Liver Transplantation

In Hfe−/− mice, transplantation of livers from Hfe+/+ mice reversed the iron-loading phenotype associated with hemochromatosis (regardless of Hfe expression in intestine). However, KCs still had low levels of iron that were not affected by hepatic hepcidin expression. These findings indicate an independent, iron-modifying effect of HFE in KCs.